Manchester Water Works union files unfair labor practice complaint

March 25. 2014 10:09PMMANCHESTER — The union representing city Water Works employees has filed an unfair labor practice complaint alleging that the city changed employees’ health care plans without negotiating the change.

The complaint alleges that the city gave employees notice of changes to their health care plan on Sept. 26, three days after the union had ratified a new contract with the city that ran from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015.

The city ratified the contract on Oct. 15 and laid out the tentative increases in deductible amounts, the complaint said.

“The city’s notification to the employees of changes to the proposed health care plan, and of its intent to deduct an increased amount to deduct an increased amount for the employees’ shares from their paychecks, was given to the employees before the city ratified the collective bargaining agreement,” the complaint reads.

That notice violated federal law and violated a verbal agreement among the city, Board of Water Commissioners and union that the notice would go to employees after both sides had ratified the agreement, the complaint alleges.